Folding frame for hammock seats and like load supporting members



Aprnfl H, 119% 1 J. F. PARK$ v 2,5Q3fifl8 FOLDING FRAME FOR HAW/100K SEATS AND LIKE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBERS Filed April 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor JAM 6 Par/4S Attorney April 11, 1950 2,503,508

' J. F. PARKS FOLDING FRAME FOR HAMMOCK SEATS AND LIKE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBERS Filed April 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet z F/G.6. E

' Inventor Jase l1 F Par-As Attorney FOLDING FRAME F'oR HAMMOCK SEATS AND LIKE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBERS April 11,1956 J F PARKS I 2,503,508

Filed April 19, 1948 4 Shets-Sheet 3 0 Inventor Jase l F. Par/is Attorney April 11, 1950 Filed April 19, 1948 J. F. PARKS FOLDING FRAME FOR HAMMOCK SEATS AND I LIKE LOAD SUPPORTING MEMBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Jase 1 F, ar/(s WMA Attorney Patented Apr. 11, 1950 FOLDING FRAME FOR HAMMOCK SEATS AND. LIKEJLOAD, S UPPORTINGv MEMBERS M91 11 Z a i Pa s i m aaile En and Application April 19, 1948, Serial No. 21,994 In Great Britain OctoberZfi, 19,46?

13 Claims,

1 he nven qn. re ate t9. qldi l f illxi v -q ham ;cl eats fqx ega ngple of the deckchau tips? d the i a lsli ma m m l ii has 9!" n h i olq ieqist V116? QYd 9 Sim ti fwhi hwi l b sa isfaq o is aif s e a h and; s ar'y di i t kb w Will wiel ed i ww pa rably each s n gportin aSSembly is piv- 1; jent'nd of the; ma n .l l ng m itfie n fra memjn befiftipnnected tothe her preventing pivting member t e fil yo a in h ela ve v e mem anidfihere y eterminin the pgsit' the'legs ndof the mciimt j f at s bpp mem eys in. e ation '0 themainfiframe ert'lhe'n the sup fer e cte'dfpositions. K pivotal qonnections m n 'i'na member n h e s ,ementiyhave heilt'ax j en gentialto a mare havihgjthecentre line of'the adjacent load supporting member for the locus" of its center whereby the legs in their folded condition lie close to the lead supporting member; Further each load supporting member cjonveniently carries slidable longitudinally with 'or on it relatively to the mounting member, "a cqupling member (which may be aqjustable) eonnected by links to the legs and to the main frame memher; the links, the legs and thefload sup arting member in th ir. folde sm fio lyin l a a t ind "substantially pairallei to" the" main frame m m e .l ;w

. I ,l WQ q s m t e accpx u u to t e Wea qq r l u t ate i f m .l k e l j s: n t e 192. nam dr n ls' n h n' m i T T i lvatipn i 9329 wi l f. i a brd i g l we. lveeii y it lfig ii esfl l and L2 are respectively an enlarged plein View and an enlalfgeci se'c tidr'ia l view'qftfie sllde' ble "collar e fhploye'd on the 'faKset-sup r fl ii gvmembq r 7 Ei u ei a, eta SQQ i v ew of. t rransfimeht r .9 .j t hinge e e Sa't suppoi'ting member, f l e s a d evation ofn a t nat qq l l wii ii @f hair e c d n t6 v nti n in e iqn b bof F re i e i id i e ev ion aw n th ha 1 F u e n. i =Q 1e =Qn i bn with 40 "E1. u i f? i a, et i l ie a t y in seqiivn it he eg fi ih t and the,

p 9 s a irag mentar Vi w, h win the an n'gement if we ofthepreagle 'lpen beriued 3 two tubular spreaders 2 and 3 which are arranged to be detachably secured to the seat supporting members of the folding chair frame as indicated in Figure 1.

Thus the spreader Z. is provided as shown in Figure 7 with reduced portions 4 adjacent to its ends adaptedto fit into slots 5 formed in the upper ends of front seat-supporting arms 6 as is most clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The spreader 3 is on the other hand provided with a central tubular extension or plug "I adapted to be a detachable force fit in the upper end of the upper part 8 of rear seat-supporting member as indicated most clearly in Figure 1.

The folding frame comprises a substantially horizontal main tubular frame member 9 to the ends of which are pivotally connected mounting members II and I2. The mounting member II has rigidly secured to and projecting from it the lower part IU of a seat-supporting member which in turn has pivotally connected to its upper end an upper part 8. The pivotal connection between the part 8 and the part I9 includes links 26 pivoted respectively to the adjacent ends of the parts 6 and I9 and a locking sleeve 21 which can he slid over the links as indicated in Figures 1 and 13 so as to hold the parts 8 and I8 in. alignment when desired.

Also pivotally connected to the mounting member l I are two legs 2|, the axes of the pivots connecting the frame member 9 and the legs 2| to the mounting member-II being inclined to one another as shown at angles of 120 and lying in the same plane. part II] of the rear seat-supporting member is a collar 23 provided with a spring controlled locking pin 30 adapted to engage any one of a number of holes 29 in the part III so as to lock the collar to member I 9 and by the fact that the portion I6 is held from further movement towards the mounting member I2, for example by engagement therewith. At the same time the locking of the collar 23 to the member ID holds the rear seat-supporting member 8--|8 in the required angular position, this position being adjustable however, by withdrawing the pin 30 from one hole, sliding the collar 23 along the member ID and causing the pin 30 to engage another hole. Such adjustment also causes a small corresponding adjustment of the legs 2 I.

When the chair is to be folded the hammock seat I is detached therefrom by withdrawing the member I'from the member 8 and detaching the spreader 2 from the slots 5. The collar 21 is then slid upwards, enabling the upper part 8 of the seat-supporting member 8| 8 to be rocked backwards as indicated in Figure 3. The pin 39 is also withdrawn and the collar 23 is slid upwards beyond the holes 29, while the legs l3 are folded towards the member 9 to bring the parts into the position indicated in Figure 3 and finally into their fully folded position in which the links 24,

Mounted to slide upon the lower ill the part [0 in any one of a number of desired longitudinal positions. The collar 30 is connected by links 22 to each of the legs 2| and by a similar link 24 to a clip or lug 25 rigid with the main frame member 9. It will be seen that the links 22 and 24 are of approximately the same length and that the pivots connecting the links 22 to the legs approximately 120 to one another. Connected to the legs I3 by links I4 and to a lug 29 rigid with the member 9 by links I9 is a coupling member I 5 which is rigidly secured to the lower end portion it of a seat-supporting member comprising in ad dition to the lower end portion 6 a pair of arms 6 pivoted to a pair of plates secured to the upper end of the portion I6. The two arms 6 are pivoted on parallel axes and pass through slots I8 in the mounting member I2 which are spaced apart by a greater distance than the pivots connecting the lower ends of the arms 6 to the portion I6 so that, when the portion I6 moves towards the mounting member I2, the arms 6 slide through the slots I8 and their outer ends move apart. Thus the member I6 and the arms 6 together form the front seat-supporting member for the hammock seat I.

As will be seen when the chair is in its erected condition as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the legs 2| and I3 are held in the appropriate position respectively by the locking of the collar 30 to the 75" ber 9 and substantially parallel thereto.

the legs 2| and the parts 8 and I0 lie on one side of and approximately parallel to the member 9 while the links I9 and I4 and the parts I6 and 6 and the legs I3 lie on the other side of the mem- The folded frame may then be wrapped in the hammock seat I for transport or storage.

In an alternative arrangement the upper part of the tube 8 might be arranged to telescope within the lower part I0.

In the alternative construction illustrated in Figures 14 to 19 the chair comprises a hammock seat 3| attached at its ends to tubular spreaders 32 and 33 provided with central extensions 34, 35, for example of rectangular cross section, adapted to fit with a light force fit into the ends of seatsupporting members 36, 31 as shown in Figure 14:

The rear seat-supporting member 36 is pivotally connected by a hinge 53 to a lower supporting member 39 which in turn is hinged to the rear end of a main frame member 38, to the front end of which a front seat-supporting member 31 is hinged. Associated with the front end of the frame 38 is a leg assembly comprising two legs each including parts 48, 42 pivoted to one another at 46 about an axis parallel to the hinge connecting the members 38 and 31 and pivotally connected for universal movement at their upper ends respectively to the members 38 and 31. As shown the pivotal connections between the ends of the parts 49 and 42, and the members 38 and 31;-

respectively, each comprise a pin 44 mounted in a bearing on the member 38 or 31 and having forked ends 45 to which the ends of the parts 49 or 42 are pivotally connected. Thus the parts 40 have universal pivotal movement relatively to the member 38 while the parts 42 have universal pivotal movement relatively to the member 31.

A fabric or like flexible tension member 4'! extends between the ground engaging parts of the legs 8, 92 to limit their separation from one another.

The member 3'! is locked against pivotal movement relatively to the member 38 when the chair is erected by means of twin links 48 pivoted at one end to the member 38 and carrying a pin 49 at their other ends arranged to engage ratchet teeth 59 on the member 37, the pin 49 being held in proximity to the ratchet teeth 50 by a guide plate 5|.

The rear legs comprise parts 4|, 43 pivoted nor to that: in: which the part-43 1s. connectedv to themembenai and the l part- 4,2: is connected:

to the member '31. llhe rear supporting member- 3-6 +-39-- is; held; inany one of: a number ofdesired angular erected positionsby twin links 54:1 pivotedthereto andcarrying a pin- 55: engaging ratchet teeth. 56 secured to the member l 3Y8= and having a guide plate 51* to hold the .pin 55.- in pro -ximityto the teeth.

' It will be seen that: in its erectedstate the chair is capable of adjustment byaltering the position ofthe pin 55 on the ratchet teeth 56 andyor -theposition of the pin- 49 on the l ratchet teeth 50;

When the frameis to be; folded the members 33 and 34 are withdrawn from the members 3! and 36*. The pin 55 connecting the links 54 is then raised clearof* the ratchet teeth Sliso that the parts 39;; and 36 can be folded in the direction of the arrows B and G in Figure 16 into the position; shown in; that figure. Similarly by lifting the pin 49 from the ratchet teeth d the member 3fl"can;be rocked in the direction of the arrowA into the position shown in Figure 16. During these movements owing to the interaction of the links 5d with the leg members! the legs M", #3 are swung inwards into a position approximately parallel; to one another while, owing: to the relative movement of the members 316 and 3,5} the leg members 41,4 3; are brought nto, th pos ion cwn F g e Similarly the links 48 interact with the legn rembers 40 to bring, them together and the pivotal movement of the member 31' relatively to the member 38 brings the leg; members. 49-, 42 into: the position shown in Figure 16. Thus a compact folded assembly is provided which if desired can be wrapped in the hammock seat 3!.

What I claim as. invention and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1 Aiolding frame for supporting from. oppoite. ends a hammock seat or similar load carrying; member comprising a single main frame and front and rear supporting assemblies each adapted to support one end of the load carrying member disposed respectively at the ends of the main frame, at least one of said assemblies comprising a support pivoted to an end of said main frame and a pair of legs, and interconnections between said support, legs and main frame permitting said supporting assembly to be independently folded to lie close to the main frame and extended to occupy an erect position in which the legs project downwardly from the main frame with their extremities spread apart and the support extends upwardy from the main frame.

2. A folding frame for supporting from opposite ends a hammock seat or other load carrying member comprising a single main frame member and supporting assemblies pivotally connected to opposite ends of the main frame membar and each comprising a mounting member pivoted to the end of the main frame member, a load supporting member connected to the mounting in a manner preventing pivotal movement of the supporting member relatively to the mounting member, a pair of legs movable with respect to the main frame member and pivoted to the mounting member to fold together, and link mechanism controlling the movement of the legs and the pivotal movement of the mounting relatively to the main frame member. and; thereby determining the position of the legs andbfthe,

mounting-and load: supporting. members in relation tothe main frame member when the sup" porting-assemblies-are intheir erected positions.

3; A foldingframeifor supporting from opposite ends a hammock seator other. load carrying member as claimed inclaim- 2, in which the pivotal= connections between each mounting membenandthe legs pivotedthereto havetheir axes; tangential to a circle having the centre line of the adjacent load-supporting member for axis whereby the legsin their folded condition lieclpse to the load- 'supporting member.

4-. A foldingframe forsupporting from opposite ends a hammock seat or other load carrying member as claimedin claim 3, in which each load supporting member carries slidable longitudinally witlror on it relatively tothe mounting member, a coupling member connected by links to the legs and' to themainiframemember.

links, the i s? nd h oad tb ne emr her in their folded conditionly'ing adjacent and substant r el; o e ma iemeim eb t' A f in fr me r. res n rom. m iis nds a. ammo k. eat. r t er oad airn ns. member. m r sing. a main. ame m mbe nd up o tin semblie co nec d, o. i s pp site ends and: ea hv com ris n am nt n member w li e p vot -remed es liemgue ing member to the legs and to the end of the mainframe member and inclinedto ne another Quilt n n the me ane a l a supporting member having a. main longitudinal axis. at right an l s t e Sa d ane d. ass etw the. of the said. pivots, coupling. member slidablewithor alongv the loadsu pportmg memher and links, of substantially ecpial length conn ct n e p-l n mem e es c ir r to h s a d. he main ram m ber. a oi rt' h en h i he ess d ma n 8m ber rnrq mate qui st t r m t es of th ivots connecting the said legs and main rame: member to th mou t me b 6. A: folding frame for supporting from opposite ends a, hammock seat or other load carrying member as claimed in claim. 5, in which the coupling member of one supporting assembly slides on the load supporting member which is rigid with its mounting member whereas the coupling member of the other supporting assembly is rigidly connected to the lower end of its load supporting member which moves relatively to and has parts which slide through its mounting member.

'7. A folding frame for supporting from opposite ends a hammock seat or other load carrying member as claimed in claim 6, including means for holding the sliding coupling member from movement relatively to its load supporting member in any one of a plurality of positions.

8. A folding frame for supporting from opposite ends a hammock seat or other load carrying member as claimed in claim 5, in which the coupling member of at least one supporting assembly is rigidly connected to the lower end of its load supporting member while the load supporting member is arranged to move relatively to its mounting member and comprises a lower end portion rigid with the coupling member and two arms pivoted to the upper end of the lower end portion and slidable through apertures in the mounting member which are spaced apart by a greater distance than the pivots connecting the lower ends of the arms to the lower end portion.

9. A folding supporting frame comprising a main frame member and a supporting assembly at at least one end thereof comprising a mounting member, two legs, pivots connecting the mounting member to the legs and to the adjacent end of the main frame member the pivots being inclined to one another but lying in the same plane, a load supporting member mounted to move relatively to the mounting member in a direction normal to the said Plane and including parts which slide through the said member, a coupling member on the lower end of the load supporting member and links of approximately equal length connecting the coupling member to the legs and to the main frame member at points approximately equidistant from the mounting member.

10. A folding frame for supporting from opposite ends a hammock seat or other load carrying member as claimed in claim 1, in which each supporting assembly includes a supporting member pivoted to the adjacent end of the main frame about a horizontal axis and two leg units each comprising two parts pivoted to one another about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the supporting member adjacent to the ground engaging part of the leg and pivoted for universal movement at their other ends respectively to the main frame and to the adjacent supporting member.

11. A folding frame for supporting from opposite ends a hammock seat or other load carrying member as claimed in claim 10, in which each of the two leg units includes a flexible tension member extending between the two legs of the unit to limit their outward movement.

12. A folding frame for supporting from its opposite ends a deckchair seat or other load carrying member comprising a single main frame member or backbone and front and rear support assemblies at its ends each including a support member pivoted to the adjacent end of the frame, two legs pivoted to each support member about axes which are inclined to one another so that in an erected position their outer ends are comparatively widely separated while in their folded position their outer ends lie comparatively close together, one or more load supporting members connected to the support member so as to be incapable of pivotal movement relatively thereto and in the erected position extending upwardly from the support member, and a pivoted linkage for preventing pivotal movement of the legs under the effect of load, comprising an intermediate member pivoted to the adjacent ends of three links the opposite ends of which are connected respectively to the two legs and to an appropriate point on the frame such that when the legs are folded the links and the legs lie adjacent and substantially parallel to the frame.

13. A folding frame for supporting from opposite ends a hammock seat or similar load carrying member comprising a single main frame member and front and rear supporting assemblies pivotally connected respectively to the ends of the main frame member and each including a support for one end of the load carrying member, a pair of legs and interconnections between the support, the legs and the main frame member permitting each supporting assembly to be independently folded into a folded position and moved into an erected position and causing the legs to move into a folded position adjacent to the main frame member when the supporting member is similarly moved into its folded position adjacent to the main frame member, said interconnections similarly causing the legs to move into an erected position in which they extend downwardly from the main frame member when the supporting member is moved into an erected position in which it extends upwardly from the main frame member.

JOSEPH FRANCIS PARKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 506,776 Ford Oct. 17, 1893 711,579 Morehouse Oct. 21, 1902 2,473,090 Becker June 14, 1949 

